Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery Time – a Poll
Tonsillectomy recovery time is unique to each individual- sure. We know that recovery time for adults is longer, and maybe harder, than tonsillectomy recovery time for children. I remember my own son bouncing back in less than a week! My own experience taught me that ten days off from a job that required lots of talking was a bit light. I generally advise two weeks. As I’ve said, most employers will let you come back early. That’s easier than asking for more time after the fact. I’ve read the accounts of thousands of tonsillectomy patients- most of them adults. I’ve learned that the time required varies. I wonder though, how many tonsillectomy patients never really post about their experience. Are you one of those quiet ones lying in the weeds? I’d like to get a better feel for the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time. Please take a moment and share your own experience in recovering from tonsillectomy surgery. You can help us all!
So let me put this out as an informal survey for people who have been through it, to help those planning a tonsillectomy. (It’s also one of the most commonly researched questions by adults considering tonsillectomy.) It’s my hope that we can amass a good sampling of experiences to help guide would-be adult tonsillectomy patients as they plan their family, work, and other obligations,
What is the average recovery time for tonsillectomy in adults? Read my Summary: Tonsillectomy Recovery Time Summary
So, what is it? What is your recommended adult tonsillectomy recovery time?
Join the discussion
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Before you schedule an appointment to have your tonsils removed, do a little research.
I’m on day 16 post tonsillectomy. My last day for prescription pain meds was 10 days afterwards. Now, I still take two Advil in the morning and two at night due to my throat still feeling somewhat sore (kind of the same feeling as I did with tonsillitis/strep). That’s to be expected, though, being that I’m 30. Day 10 was my turn around day. Around mid day I really started feeling a lot better! Day 8 was surprisingly rough and it felt as though my throat was on fire!
I don’t know if it’s because I’m only in my 20s, but I feel near 100% after just 5 days. The intense pain came and went during day 3 and now the only setbacks I have are really dry mouth after sleeping and a bit of sharpness swallowing cold things. Mind you I haven’t tried to eat solid food yet but my do I feel like I’ve turned the corner rather quickly. Surprised because getting the feel from reading around pre-surgery I thought I was in for a tremendous battle! I even stopped taking that red liquid to relive pain. Guess I’m a rare case…I’ll try to eat normally in 5 days and hope it’s all good! BTW, I got my tonsils taken out AND my uvula shortened dramatically just for those wondering. Good luck to those reading and still fighting through the worst of it…it will get better.
Hi I just had my tonsils out due to chronic infections n tonsil stones. I am 30 years old n today is day three. I have not had that much pain at all. This is nothing compared to my previous episodes with strep throat. Yes my throat is sore but all i have been doing is sucking on Ice chips n eating Italian ice. I also was prescribed some Tylenol with codine but have not even taken it. I am taking chewable Tylenol 400mg every four hours. But even that I don’t think I need. Also started eating on day 2 but soft things only. Def not as bad as I was reading about. Like I said it is nothing compared to strep throat. Just keep up with the ice n Italian ice n u will b fine.
I had my tonsils out November 2010 aged 19 after suffering with tonsillitis and glandular fever 21 times in 18 months. My recovery was pretty awful. I’m not gonna lie. My tonsils were unusually close to my jugular so i wasn’t allowed to shower for days only sponge baths in case the hot water thinned my blood too much and an artery ruptured. I also had the added pain of the after effects of intubation as i had stopped breathing during my procedure so they had to stop intubate and wait before they could continue. The pain was horrific that night in hospital as they had me on oxygen to assist with my breathing and it just kept drying my throat out so i would beg for more pain killers only for them to be brought in pill form (whose sick idea was that by the way?) The next two weeks went off without too much of a hitch. I woke myself up precisely on the times i had to take my meds or life was unbearable and my parents and stepfather would sit with me and watch me eat so they knew i had eaten and not just thrown it away. Not being able to put anything hot on my neck to soothe the ache was rough but i got through it. I wouldn’t say i completely healed until after 6 months. but the pain went down after 3 weeks. My tonsils were the size of a baby’s fist and i contribute this to my problems largely (:
I had my tonsils out at the end of October 2011 at age 51. I too did everything the ENT said… drinking water & eating & talking. I was back to work in a week. I worked as long as I could each day then went home. Was back working full time within 2 weeks. The ENT said if I was out and about I would recover quicker. I have to agree… I wasn’t 100% but I did recover pretty quick and it wasn’t near as bad as I was expecting.
I had my tonsils out in July of 2010 at the age of 37. You always hear horror stories before having the surgery, especially when you are an adult. I had a pretty good recovery experience. I followed the doctors orders precisely. I was supposed to take pain meds every 4 hours, so I built my schedule around that. I would take my meds, wait a little bit for them to start working, eat, watch some tv, and sleep. I recall not healing quite as fast as my ent would have liked me to, but I wasn’t out of work for more than two weeks. I believe that the key is to keep up with the pain meds so you don’t have an opportunity to be in pain. Also, chew gum. I had gum in my mouth all the time except when I was eating. The doctor insisted on chewing lots of gum!